Monument record MHG11645 - Field System; Embo Mains; Dornoch

Centred on 808 929.

Centred at NH 808 929 in a grass field recently cleared of whins, are the remains of a field system. It comprises stone clearance heaps, lynchets and stone-walls, with cultivation plots varying between c.25m by c10m and c.40m by c.20m.
On the E edge of the system at NH 8100 9288 on a rise is a quarried stony mound c.6.5m in diameter with two earthfast stones, reminiscent of kerb stones, in the S arc. In the hollowed interior are two rough boulders, one broken by the quarrying. It is uncertain if it is a cairn or a clearance heap.
Visited by OS (A A) 23 March 1971.

A detailed survey of the field-system was undertaken as part of a pre-afforestation survey by AOC (Scotland) Ltd. The field-system comprises fifty-eight small cairns scattered around and between a series of broad low banks. Two possible structures (NMRS MS 738/30, nos. 64 and 74) were identified by the survey. The western structure (NMRS MS 738/30, no.74) lies within the field-system whilst the eastern structure (NMRS MS 738/30, no.74) is situated to the E. The description of this structure corresponds to the feature described as a possible cairn by the OS in 1971. Two field-banks (MS 738/30 nos.75-6), which are depicted on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1978), are no longer in use.
T Rees and G Schofield, AOC(Scotland) Ltd, 1996; NMRS MS 738/30

Archaeological survey at Bottom Wood, Embo was conducted by AOC (Scotland) Ltd in advance of proposed forestry development. The survey area was a large field, located 600m W of Embo, covering an area of c 7ha.
Out of 76 individual features surveyed, only one site (NMRS NH 89 SW 12) was previously recorded. The features are predominantly clearance cairns and banks, although two structures were identified. The complex of these features lay within a discrete area occupying approximately the central third of the field. A full report was submitted to the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland AOC (Scotland) Ltd 1996